The New York Times has reported that during a discussion in Cohen’s office, located at Trump Tower’s 26th floor, 11 days before the inauguration, Cohen and Russian businessman, Viktor Vekselberg, talked about improving relations between Moscow and Washington and arranged to meet again at the inauguration. The paper quoted Andrew Intrater, an American who attended the meeting and manages investments for Vekselberg.
The New York Times reported that days after Trump’s inauguration as president in January 2017, Intrater’s private equity firm, Columbus Nova, gave Cohen a $ 1 million consulting contract , which is now under investigation by US federal authorities.
Special counsel Robert Mueller is conducting an extensive investigation into alleged contacts and dealings between Donald Trump, his associates and Russia, before and after the 2016 US presidential election.
Federal prosecutors at the US attorney’s office in Manhattan are, meanwhile, conducting a separate investigation into financial and business dealings by Michael Cohen.
Intrater told the New York Times that Vekselberg, his cousin and biggest client, did not instruct Columbus Nova to hire Cohen as a consultant.
Earlier this year, Vekselberg himself was questioned by FBI agents working on Mueller’s inquiry, and was asked about Columbus Nova payments to Cohen as well as more than $300,000 in donations Intrater made to the Republican National Committee and Trump’s inauguration.
